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Word Coordinates

This combines math and literacy. Make two sets of index cards with the numbers 1-10. (Each set should be a different color.) Stand at the bottom left corner of the grid. Explain the concept of coordinates (“across” and “up”) and the numbering system of coordinates (ex.: “may”=1,1 and “it”=10,10). Give a student one card of […]

Sentence Coordinates

Do Word Coordinates, using words (out of sequence) that will make a sentence. Have each student that jumps to a word to stay by the word. Ask the class to determine the sequence that will make a sentence. Everyone then says the sentence 3-5x, jumping/clapping once for each word.

Beginning Letters

Can you find one word that starts with the letter _____? Jump to that word and say it 3-5x while jumping on it. As the student gets to a word, everyone says it 3-5x while jumping or clapping 3-5x. Can you find all of the words that start with the letter _____? Have a different […]

High Frequency Beginning Letters

Have 10 students line up either on the left side of the mat (one student at each row) or the bottom of the mat (one student at each column). Direct students to jump/hop/step on each word until they reach a word starting with the letter _____. The student should jump on that word 5x while […]

Beginning Letters Treasure Hunt

Choose a high frequency letter. The high frequency letters on this mat are “a” (11x), “f” (6x), “g” (7x), “h” (9x), “i” (7x), “m” (6x), and “s” (8x). One student will jump and another will write down the words on the worksheet. The challenge is for the class to work together to find all of […]

Crawl and Trace Words

You or a student throws a bean bag onto the mat. Have the student crawl to the word, say it, and trace it. The class claps and says the word 3-5x while the student is tracing the word.

Find the Word I Say

Write each word on an index card. Put the students in small groups. Pick a word from the index cards and say it. All groups try to find the word on the mat. When a group finds the word, they send one student to jump to the word and put a beanbag on it. The […]

Words by Color

Use each column like a Word Hop Mat. One student starts at the bottom and jumps on each word up to the top, saying the word as he/she jumps on it. The class says each word and jumps in place.

Word Cover-Up

Cover up all but a small portion, like 2 rows, with a tarp, a sheet, or a blanket. This allows students to focus on a small portion of words and practice them only. Start with the top two rows. The easier words are at the top of the mat. The level of difficulty increases as […]

Word Match

Write each word on an index card. Distribute one card to each student. Ask them to match their card with the same word on the mat. One at a time, students jump to their word and place their card on it. Other students say and clap the word 3x. Students may be paired for ease […]